February 15, 2009

After a really tedious day at work, after an argument with your ex, after treading in dog shit [which can potentially make you feel just as bad as the run in with the ex] or even at the end of a big dinner here is my refreshing and alcoholic dessert option that kills two birds with one stone – feeding something other than your appetite and getting drunk.

Elderflower, Cava and Fruit Jelly

The leftover portion photographed in a bowl cause I forgot to take a picture of the real ones and I smashed one as well I made these desserts and served them in sherry glasses. The fruit does all the decoration and if you put it in a glass you look really chic. Even guys could make this. [Roffing to myself]

IngredientsMixed soft fruit [you can use anything like blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries - MULBERRIES WOULD BE BANGING! In fact any fruit but not pineapple or kiwi fruit or there would be a reaction with the gelatine and it wouldn't set. Kind of a CSI thing.]4 leaves of gelatine140ml elderflower cordial2 heaped tablespoons caster sugar425ml prosecco or cava

Put the cava, fruit and serving bowls all in the fridge so that they are cold.Soak the leaves of gelatine in bit of cold water for about 2 minutes.

If you have a double boiler put the cordial in over hot water and add gelatine. If you don’t have a double boiler you can fake one with a bowl floating in a saucepan. And if you can’t be bothered to do that [like I wasn't] just put the cordial and gelatine in a saucepan over a really really low heat and constantly stir it until the gelatine is dissolved. If it looks like it is going to get too hot boil, take it off the heat again for it to cool down a bit. If you boil it, the gelatine won’t set. [It's a CSI kind of thing too.] Then add the sugar. It should dissolve pretty quickly in the warm cordial mixture.

Take the saucepan off the heat and leave it to cool down a bit which will take as long as it does to get all the stuff out of the fridge you need, put the fruit into all the bowls or glasses [Take the green bits of the strawberries and cut them in half. You don't need to do anything to the other fruits.] and open the cava and measure it out.

Add the cava to the gelatine. It is going to froth up quite a bit so add the cava slowly. Once it is all mixed together pour over the fruit.

Put it back in the fridge to set. You can easily make this the day before so no sweat on the big night.Serve with crème fraîche or on its own.

Don’t drop and smash one on the kitchen floor though like I did and have sticky elderflower everywhere and a beautiful glass dead because you were a bit pissed already and miss handled it.